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Friday, August 17, 2012

Sepia Saturday: The Great Seal of UVA

Sepia Saturday challenges
bloggers to share family history through old photographs.

This week’s Sepia Saturday photo prompt depicts a dog
donating bones to the cause. We have had dog
themes before, but I don’t remember any that have focused on "the dog that
gives." Calm down, you dog people – I know
you are ready to pounce, proclaiming loud and long that man’s best friend gives
and gives unconditionally. In this blog
post, I have a story that supports your hypothesis.

My dad used to mention from time to time that when he was
a student at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, there was a mutt
that showed up on campus one day in the early 1940s and soon wormed his way
into the hearts of students and administrators alike. The timing was perfect as the first mascot,
Beta (named for Beta Theta Pi), had died after being hit by a car on Rugby
Road. The new mascot was named Seal
because his sleek black coat resembled that of a seal.

Scanned from the UVA school newspaper

From the moment Seal stepped on campus, he was fully involved in the life of the
Cavaliers. He sat in the gymnasium while
students registered. He attended class
although he was known to fall asleep during some lectures. He was even a welcome guest at many graduation
ceremonies over the years.

Even though Seal had no official home, he never went hungry.
Everybody fed him either in the dining hall, in the dorms, or in private
apartments. There were even some
restaurants that posted signs: “No dogs
allowed except Seal.”

Seal possessed a funny kind of intelligence. One time he broke his leg but managed to
hobble to the University Hospital where the doctors took him in and set his
leg. (Lucky for Seal, no one asked for his insurance card.)

The story most remembered dates back to 1949, the year that
Seal traveled with the football team to the University of Pennsylvania. Seal was proudly wearing his blue blanket
with a large orange “V.” At half-time,
Seal crossed the field and urinated on a UPenn cheerleader’s megaphone. After
that, the Virginia fans dubbed him “Caninus Megaphonus Pennsylvanus.” (Leave it to those Wahoos to throw in some Latin!)

The much loved mascot became very ill in his old age, too
old to withstand an operation that would have saved a younger dog. In December 1953, Seal was put down, but he
was not alone. Campus flags flew at
half-staff. Students arranged for a
casket and pallbearers, a hearse, even a police escort. Seal was given a grand funeral by some 2000
students, faculty, administrators, and community friends who came to mourn. In the eulogy the varsity team’s doctor said, “I can see Seal now, leading the parade in a celestial stadium
lined with giant oak trees, golden hydrants and gilded megaphones at his disposal.… In true Jeffersonian tradition,
Seal came from an obscure and questionable beginning, and rose to the highest
place of esteem at the University.”

Seal is buried just outside the
University of Virginia Cemetery next to Beta, the first mascot. Seal's epitaph reads:

To perpetuate

the memory of Seal

Mascot and Friend

of the students of the University

Died Dec. 11, 1953

Photo courtesy of RoadsideamericaTombstones for Beta and Seal

Grab your pooch and take a walk to Sepia Saturday for more bones and doggie treats.

A fine story about a wonderful and faithful dog. I love these stories and as a child had a whole book of them. As a teacher i found them great stories for children to illustrate faith, loyalty etc. I wish I'd had the story of Seal to call upon.

Wendy! Once again, such a clever and original story from you ... this time heart-warming. I can clearly picture the whole scene, and I am sure that Seal was sorely and fondly missed by all who knew him. Thank you.

That's a fine dog story, a true one about a community and its admiration of a dog's loyalty. We used to live in Savannah which was the home of Uga the bulldog for the Univ. of Georgia Athens. Uga was actually several bulldogs over generations and lived in Savannah but spent football season Saturdays on the Athens campus.

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About Me

My name is Wendy. About twenty years ago, I helped my mother research the Jolletts. Since retiring from teaching, I have expanded my research which I share here. When I’m not looking for my own family, I index for FamilySearch and the Greene County Historical Society.
Welcome to Jollett Etc. Please leave a comment to let me know you were here. If you have more information or believe we are related, EMAIL ME at wendymath at cox dot net